New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- BIMSTEC countries on Tuesday approved a series of measures to step up coordinated attacks on cross-border criminal and terrorist networks, terror financing and narcotics smuggling, as well as steps to improve emergency response mechanisms to deal with natural disasters in the region. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional grouping comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It aims to promote economic and technical cooperation among countries bordering the Bay of Bengal and in its neighbourhood. On Tuesday, Union home minister Amit Shah chaired the first BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting of Home Ministers in New Delhi. "We are committed to full implementation of the BIMSTEC Convention on cooperation in combating challenges such as international terrorism, transnational organised crime, and illicit drug trafficking," Shah said in his address before the meeting commenced. Emphasising that India has the policy of "zero tolerance" against terrorism, Shah said: "Our shared resolve must be to ensure that no part of the region provides any scope for terrorist networks to seek shelter, recruit members, undergo training, raise funds, or carry out activities against neighbouring countries." On disaster management, the Union minister said that during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed setting up a BIMSTEC Disaster Management Centre in India. "The centre is planned to be established in Jamnagar, Gujarat, underscoring India's role as a first responder in disaster management across the region," he added. A statement from the Centre said the meeting's highlights included approval of an action plan proposing joint efforts by member countries in regional risk planning, joint exercises, early warning systems, disaster mapping, training centres, information sharing, research, technological innovation, and tsunami risk reduction. Shah also sought to highlight the need for international coordination to deal with drug smugglers generating illicit funds for organised crime and terrorist activity. "The security of one member country strengthens the security of the entire region, guided by this principle, India remains committed to a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Bay of Bengal region," he said. Referring to the so-called Golden Triangle-the drug smuggling route encompassing Myanmar, Laos and Thailand- Shah said there was "nothing golden about the trafficking of narcotics." "This cannot be tackled by the efforts of a single country alone. We must adopt a whole of region approach," he said....